Moscow, November 05, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Friendship Order, the highest distinction awarded by the Vietnamese State to foreign nationals, has been conferred upon Anatoli Dmitrievich Artamonov, Chair of the Federation Council Committee on the Budget and Financial Markets and former Governor of Kaluga Oblast.
On behalf of the President of Việt Nam, Ambassador Đặng Minh Khôi presented the honour to Artamonov at a ceremony held in Moscow on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Khôi emphasized that the award reflects Việt Nam’s respect and recognition of Artamonov’s outstanding contributions to enhancing cooperation between Kaluga Oblast and Việt Nam. He noted that Artamonov’s efforts have helped further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and the Russian Federation.
During his tenure as Governor of Kaluga and in his current capacity as a senior legislator, Artamonov has actively supported Vietnamese investment projects, notably the TH Group’s large-scale dairy project in Kaluga. The initiative, endorsed by President Vladimir Putin, the late Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, and current Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, stands as a prime example of the dynamic and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the new era.
Expressing his gratitude to the Vietnamese leadership for the honour, Artamonov highlighted the enduring strength of the Việt Nam–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership amid complex global geopolitical developments. He underscored the importance of continued exchanges at all levels and close coordination between the Federation Council and the Vietnamese National Assembly, particularly in sharing legislative experience and working together at international forums.
Artamonov also praised Việt Nam’s remarkable socio-economic progress, noting that the country has transformed from a war-torn nation that once received Soviet assistance into one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies under the visionary leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam.
He added that Russia seeks to learn from Việt Nam’s development experience, describing Việt Nam as an emerging centre of hi-tech manufacturing and a vital partner in Russia’s strategy to expand cooperation across the Asian region.
